The Puma Ultra 1.2s are the 2nd iteration of the Ultra series and they are marketed as a speed boot. The key thing here, which Puma says, make them stand out from their competitors, is that this re-writes the rules of a speed boot.
Why?
Because while other boots are ultra light weight, it's always been an unwritten rule, that there's a payoff to get there. That comes at a cost to comfort. In the past, the speed boots have been criticised for being far too narrow, not just for wide footed players, but the average baller too. While marketed to forwards, the Puma Ultra are meant to be accessible to these wider footed players, so is it true?
FIT: YES, in a word. They are no where as near a struggle to get into as the Mercurials or Ghosted series from Nike and Adidas, respectively, and I didn't feel much of a pinch at all. The material is a hybrid, between synthetic and knit, and maybe this is what makes the difference. They just felt less plasticky/boot like and more trainer like. The sole is fairly flexible too, even if it is a one-piece, so my initial reaction was excitement. They felt good, looked good.....just needed to play good.
In terms of sizing, I'd go true to size , they fit perfectly for me, and there was nothing to suggest sizing down, the heel lockdown was snug, the toe-box secure and as mentioned before, no pinching anywhere.
Out on pitch and I have to be honest, lacing up and waiting to get our game underway, these felt sweet. But I have to be 100% honest, within about 10 minutes, out on pitch, my soles did feel a little sore...but having said that, the pain eased a little. This was probably due to the single config sole plate, which I always do need to wear in a little. The boot itself, in terms of the upper, was fine though, I didn't encounter anymore issues, the further I went into the match.
However, about a day after playing, the pain returned to my soles, and I also felt a bit stiff around my ankles afterwards too. It's really tricky to apportion blame here, to the boot, or something else, so I don't want to put too much emphasis on it here, but I do think it's worth mentioning, as it was identical to the pain I felt, early doors, in my game.
Overall, I'm not a huge fan of the speed boots, so I had to try quite hard to push those perceptions to the side. I just don't think that these lightweight boots are light enough to make a difference onfield. I'm sure the likes of Messi and Salah would disagree, but in real terms, for us grassroots players, I've never bought into the idea. Our footballing world is different. Most of us know that boots are heavy, especially in the rain, but it's something we factor in, have almost become accustomed to. Because of that, wearing an ultra lightweight boot, while feeling like a new sensation, I also felt it was a little light on tech. There's clamour to have a barefoot feel when it comes to boots.
But why?
The UK isn't Brazil, we don't really play on the beach and we don't grow up playing the beautiful game barefoot, so it's a logic that I have never understood. Wearing boots is part of my upbringing, so manufacturers trying to make it feel like I'm not wearing boots, is in direct opposition to my thinking. I fully understand, that this is just my personal opinion and a lot will disagree, but as said in other reviews, I, am the one reviewing, so it's good to hear opinions you might not always here elsewhere.
Continuing on, I just feel that the boot is kinda devoid of personality. I like the demon skin of the Predator, the ridges of the Phantom, the cushioned leather of Copas. But the feather like qualities of the Ultra and speed boots in general, just don't seem visible enough.
Overall, it is a great boot. The fact that its accessible to wider footed people, is a massive bonus, and I have no complaints. I probably had my best game in recent times, in them, so I can't be too harsh, but at the same time, maybe I could of played better. The one thing I did 100% feel though, was that there was something missing. The comfort I got from the Phantoms, the power from the Preds, the control from the Copa. The lightness from the Ultras? It just didn't seem as tangible as other boots. In terms of style, these boots did look siick on the camera of our games......I do like black boots, these are kinda black, with a lot of character. The orange and yellow sole plates, make it stand out, and the knitting is so unique.
I don't really have any negatives overall, on these boots, which is great. I'd definitely wear them again, and shout them out as probably the best speed boot on the market currently.
Price: £135
Fit: True to Size, no discussion here. Great for wider feet and they are speed boots!
Tech: knit/synthetic upper
Comfort: Tight but flexible, the 1-piece sole plate, takes a little wearing in
Look: They look siick, the colorways are great and make every pair stand out.
Rating: 8/10
Comments